New Palestine High School

Ben Slagley grabbed a rebound and put it back in just as the buzzer sounded Tuesday night, giving IBCA No. 18 New Palestine a 63-61 victory over AP 3A No. 5 Guerin Catholic. Slagley's putback finished a classic contest, as it broke the last of seven ties. The game featured 16 lead changes. After Guerin missed two free throws with 30 seconds left, the Dragons brought it upcourt and held for the final shot. Julius Gizzi drove down the lane, but left a contested shot in traffic off the rim. But with the defense shading to Gizzi, Slagley was in perfect position to grab the rebound and put it in at the buzzer. Slagley scored six of his 16 points in the fourth quarter, helping the Dragons hold off the Golden Eagles. He also had eight rebounds. After losing a nine-point lead going into the fourth and falling behind when Guerin hit 3-pointers on consecutive possessions, the Dragons battled back. Austin McMahan was fouled on an offensive rebound and hit one free throw to tie the game. Guerin's Bryson Cardinal scored on the other end to put the Golden Eagles back on top, but Slagley answered by rolling to the basket and laying in a feed from Moses Haynes. On the ensuing possession, Guerin was fouled at midcourt but missed the two free throws, setting the stage for Slagley's last-second heroics. NP led 56-47 going into the fourth, thanks to a hot-shooting third quarter in which Haynes hit three 3-pointers and Gizzi scored eight points. The Dragons scored 23 points in the frame to break a halftime tie and take the lead. Guerin scored on the first possession and later added a free throw from Cardinal, but Slagley responded with a basket inside to put the Dragons up 58-50. NP had the ball with a chance to extend the lead to double-digits, but a turnover ignited a three-possession run by the Golden Eagles in which Jack Cherry, Jake Grisson and Robert Sorenson hit 3-pointers to take a 59-58 edge, before the Dragons answered. The first quarter was fast-paced, as Gizzi and Slagley scored six points each to counter Sorenson's two 3-pointers and give the Dragons a 23-16 lead. But the Golden Eagles responded in the second, opening the frame with a 10-1 run keyed by two Sorenson 3-pointers to take the lead. Haynes responded with the second of his five 3-pointers on the day to put the Dragons on top 27-26, and the lead swapped hands several more times the rest of the half before settling at 33-all going into the break. Haynes and Gizzi led the Dragons with 17 points each, as Gizzi was held below 20 points for the first time this season. Slagley added 16 points on 8-of-9 shooting and added eight boards. Gizzi had five rebounds. McMahan scored seven points, hitting all three of his field-goal attempts. Brady Armstrong, Keagan Harrison and Alex Guhl scored two points each. Cherry led four Golden Eagles in double figures with 16 points. Sorenson had 15 - all on 3-pointers - while Cardinal had 13 points and 10 boards. Andy Caron added 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting. Both teams shot well - NP was 56% for the game (25-45), while Guerin was 51% (23-45). Both teams hit 40% or better from 3-point range - the Dragons were 6-of-15, while the Golden Eagles were 10-of-21, with Haynes and Sorenson each hitting 5-of-10. Slagley and Haynes each had three assists for the Dragons, who are now 15-4 after their third straight victory. The Dragons dropped the JV game 47-36. The Dragons are next in action at home Friday against Shelbyville, followed by another home contest Saturday against Connersville.